The Rocks of the southern margin of the Gawler Range Province – from basement to cover

The Geological Survey of South Australia, in collaboration with the Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre (DET CRC), Minotaur Exploration and Kingston Resources, carried out a Mineral Systems Drilling Program (MSDP) along the southern margin of the Gawler Ranges between July 2015 and April 2016.

Working alongside the MSDP, a detailed geological mapping program was carried out in order to provide a regional geological context in which the stratigraphy and potentially alteration and mineralisation can be interpreted. The geological mapping program comprised detailed basement, structural and regolith mapping, as well as petrological, whole rock geochemical, isotopic and geochronological studies.

This Discovery Trail features some of the rock samples that were collected during this program spanning from the basement to the Gawler Range Volcanic Province through to its cover.

The majority of the rock samples have been collected in each of the three MSDP drilling areas along the southern margin of the Gawler Range Volcanic Province, including the Six Mile Hill 1:75 000 map sheet, Peltabinna 1:75 000 geological map sheet, and Mount Double 1:75 000 geological map sheet as well as in adjacent areas.

A detailed report including all rock samples is available for further reading:
Mineral Systems Drilling Program Rock Shack - a pictorial catalogue of the outcrop sample collection for the MSDP southern Gawler Ranges margin.

We hope you enjoy this virtual rock sample fieldtrip along the southern margin of the Gawler Range Volcanic Province!